From the Asahi Shimbun: "7.1 magnitude quake leads to casualties, fires in Kumamoto."
A major earthquake that registered a maximum seismic intensity of 7 rocked Kumamoto Prefecture at 4:27 p.m. on July 28, causing casualties, damaging or destroying infrastructure and disrupting transportation.
Tsunami warnings were issued for the Ariake and Yatsushiro Sea areas, but they were lifted at 6:10 p.m.
The Japan Meteorological Agency reported the hypocenter of the quake, with a preliminary magnitude of 7.1, was at a shallow depth of about 10 kilometers.
The main quake was followed by a series of aftershocks, including one with an intensity of lower 5 at 4:29 p.m., and two more with intensities of 4 at 4:39 p.m. and 4:59 p.m.
The maximum intensity of 7 was recorded in Uki city and Hikawa town in Kumamoto Prefecture.
An intensity of upper 6 was felt in Kumamoto city’s Minami Ward as well as in the cities of Yatsushiro and Uto, and the towns of Misato and Mashiki.
There was damage to some buildings, including a shopping mall that suffered a partial collapse, and roads and at least one bridge. The Daily Mail has more photographs of the damage. Several people died in the mall collapse, but I haven't seen any real estimates as to the number of dead or injured. My guess is that it will be a fairly small number due to the building codes which take into account the earthquake risk.
No comments:
Post a Comment